Shoe structure



w. w. M 'coY SHOE STRUCTURE Oct. 1, 1929.

Filed Feb. 11, 1925 Patented Get. 1, 1929 STATES WILLIAM W. MCCOY, OI CINCINNATI, OHIO SHOE STRUCTURE Application filed February 11, 1925. Serial No. 8,552.

An object of my invention is to provide a shoe structure embodying certain novel features, especially in the shank support and the mounting thereof upon a shoe having a wooden heel.

Another object is to provide an arch supporting shoe shank support which is adapted to be secured entirely over the heel portion of a shoe.

Another object is to provide a shoe structure wherein the shoe shank support is so constructed as to permit the gluing and clamping of a wooden heel upon the shoe by approved production methods now commonly used in attaching wooden heels to shoes.

Another object is to provide a shoe structure embodying a novel form of arch supporting shank and a wooden heel which may be assembled by the usual production method thereby effecting a saving of labor and time which was not possible heretofore in the manufacture of shoes embodying the above mentioned elements.

These and other objects are attained by 5 the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a shoe embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental cross sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and showing in dotted lines a last of the type used for shoes having wooden heels.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on line of Fig. 1.

The shoe structure and especially the shank support of my present invention embodies the advantages of the structure disclosed in my Letters Patent No. 1,335,172, issued to me on March 30, 1920, wherein the shank support is secured entirely to the heel portion of the shoe so that absolute flexibility is attained while the wearer is walking and a spring support is provided beneath the scaphoid bone of the foot for supporting the arch when the wearer is standing. An-

other advantage of the structure also lies in the fact that the support exerts no pressure upon the foot of the wearer when the wearer is resting. The shoe 5 has a wooden heel 6 0f the typecomm n y used, and outer 5016 7 and an inner sole 8. The shank support 9-is preferably made of spring steel and is somewhat shorter than the type commonly used. The support 9 is adapted to be secured to the inner'sole by means of the usual tacks 10 in order to position said support in relation to the sole. The outer sole is then secured to the inner sole in the usual manner. The wooden heel 6 has its upper face dished or hollowed as at 6 and the outer sole is rounded complementary thereto in order that the heel may seat solidly upon the outer sole. The last L upon which 'shoeshaving wooden heels are built is provided with a bore extending from the top of the last and through said last to a point corresponding with substantially the center of balance of the heel. The bore in the last extends at an angle to the heel as shown in Fig. 2.

In building ordinary shoes having wooden heels lasts such as havebeen described are employed and a wooden heel is coated with glue and positioned'upon the rounded portion of the outer sole. A drill is then inserted through the bore in' the last and a hole is drilled through the inner and outer soles and for a distance into the heel. After the drill is removed, a long pin P having one end threaded and "provided with suitable abutment washers at ltsopposite end, is passed through the bore in the last and the threaded portion is passed into the perforations made by the drill and the pin P is then screwed tightly into the heel, thus clamping the heel firmly upon the outer sole where it is allowed toremain until the glue on the heel dries. Other operations in the manufacture of the shoe may be performed while the heel is tightly clamped by means of the threaded pin P extending through the last L. However in shoes employing arch supporting shoe shank supports of the type mentioned, the employment of this clamping method for heels has heretofore not been possible for the reason that the nature and positioning of the support required "that the rear end of the support extend well over the heel portion of the shoe, so that a drill, being passed through the bore in the last would strike the steel plate comprising the arc support. In order to pro vide a shoe shank support having the desired advantages and which would at the same time be adapted to use with the approved production method just described, I have provided a novel structure for the rear end of the shank support. The shank support 9 is provided with a longitudinally extending opening or slot 11 which may take the form of a V-shaped opening bounded by converging Walls 12. The opening 11 is adapted to be positioned over the center of balance of the heel with the prongs 13 extending rearwardly along the opposite sides thereof. By using a shoe shank support such as that just described it will be i readily apparent that a drill may be passed through the bore in the last and through the soles and into the heel in the usual manner and that the drill will pass between the prongs 13 of the shank support 9'. The threaded pin P may in a like manner be employed for clamping the heel upon the shoe while the glue is drying. After the pin P is removed and the shoe is removed from the last, the usual fastening nails 14 are driven through the soles and into the heel for permanently securing the parts one upon the other as shown. From the foregoing it will be apparent that none of the advantages of the shank support have been sacrificed and that the added advantage of being able to construct the shoe by the usual production methods has been attained.

What I claim is:

1. In a shoe construction the combination of a wooden heel, an outer. sole, an inner sole, a spring plate having an opening extending to the rear end thereof, said plate being interposed between the inner and outer soles, and having its rear end supported by the heel and its forward end free, said plate projecting beyond the heel and terminating beneath the scaphoid bone of the foot and means extending through the soles and the opening in the spring plate and into the heel for rigidly clamping the heel upon the outer sole.

2. In a shoe construction the combination of a heel, an outer sole, an inner sole, a spring plate having an opening extending to the rear end thereof interposed between the inner and outer soles, said plate having its rearend supported by the heel and its forward end free and projecting beyond the heel and terminating at a point beneath the schapoid bone on the foot and a temporary securing means extending through the soles and the opening in the spring plate and into the heel for rigidly clamping the heel upon the outer sole.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day of February,

WILLIAM W. McCOY. 

